Israel Matzav

Goldstone's favorite court system executes two 'collaborators'

I'm sure you all remember Richard Richard Goldstone telling Christiane Amanpour of CNN (at least at the time) that Hamas has a 'court system' that is capable of investigating the war crimes they committed during Operation Cast Lead. That court system was in action early Thursday morning. In what's being billed as the first 'officially sanctioned' executions in Gaza in nearly a decade (except for the ones that were), Hamas summarily executed two 'Palestinians' for 'collaborating' with Israel early Thursday morning, and dumped their bodies outside Gaza's Shifa Hospital.

The executions were announced by Ahmed Atallah, the head of Gaza's military court. In a statement on the Interior Ministry Web site, Atallah said the two defendants had provided information to Israel and helped with attacks on Gaza militants for several years.

Atallah said Mohammed Ismail, 36, was convicted of planting devices in the cars of militants, presumably to help track them. Nasser Abu Freh, 33, a former Palestinian police captain before the Hamas takeover, allegedly started receiving money to work with Israel in 1998.

Collaboration with Israel is considered the highest crime in Palestinian society. In a sign of shame, the two men's families did not hold typical mourning ceremonies for them, instead burying them quietly in a brief funeral.

The executions were the first since 2001, when two collaborators were put to death by firing squad in Gaza during the reign of Abbas' predecessor, Yasser Arafat. The then-justice minister said at the time that the executions were meant as a warning to those thinking of betraying the homeland.

Hamas officials have made a similar argument in recent weeks, saying executions would deter spies. Thursday's executions were also seen as a move by Hamas to assert internal control and independence from Abbas.

'Palestinian' justice in action. Heh.

By the way, the picture at the top is from the execution of Fatah-affiliated prisoners by Hamas at the beginning of Operation Cast Lead.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:03 AM